2014 Mazda MAZDA6 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often complain that the vehicle does not fully shut off when the start/stop button is pressed while the shift lever is in Park — the engine stops but accessories stay powered, and the car has to be jiggled in and out of Park to power down. A second common theme is the parking brake, both the rear caliper binding recalled in 2017 and complaints that the handbrake does not hold after the recall work. Remaining reports are spread across stalling and rough running, brake noise or dragging, and steering or driver-assist warnings, most often between roughly 30,000 and 90,000 miles.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Car won't fully shut off when in Park

   • 41 complaints (30%)
   • median 58,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2025

   Owners describe pressing the start/stop button with the selector in Park and having the engine stop while the radio, lights and instrument panel stay on, sometimes with a message asking them to shift to Park even though the lever is already there. Repeated cycling in and out of Park, or shifting to Neutral or Drive and back, is needed to power the car down; several owners say it takes many attempts and that battery drain or dead batteries follow. Dealers are reported to have replaced the shifter or gear selector assembly, with one owner quoting a few hundred dollars for the part. Most reports arrive between about 28,000 and 106,000 miles, often three or more years into ownership and sometimes becoming more frequent over time.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the car in Park, press the start/stop button and confirm everything powers off on the first press; repeat after a short drive. Ask whether the shifter or gear selector assembly has ever been replaced, and check for a battery that has been replaced prematurely.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When shifting the car to park, the electricity will stay on to the vehicle. Sometimes after forcefully putting the shifter into park will the car shut off completely. I have had times where it takes 30+ tries to shut the car off completely. This has resulted in 2 dead batteries when others are driving my car, and the problem is not known to them.”

   NHTSA complaint #11096688, filed 2018-05, 85,000 miles

   “Problem with shift control/park switch.. Car would be in a stationary position and ignition would be shut down. Interior controlled items (I.e. Radio, heat/air system, lighting, etc. Would remain on and would not shut off. I would attempt to start/restart vehicle to see if the car (and all systems) would shut down - they would not. Only way I could completely turn off the car and all systems was to place the car in reverse or drive mode and then put the car back in the park position. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11112468, filed 2018-07, 46,747 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Stalling or sudden loss of power while driving

   • 27 complaints (20%)
   • median 39,925 mi at 4.5 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Owners describe the engine cutting out or losing power without warning at speed or while accelerating, with warning lights coming on and normal running returning after a restart. Some report the engine revving up on its own while stopped with the brake applied, causing the car to lurch forward. According to complaints, dealers often could not reproduce the problem or found no stored code; one owner reported the engine was found seized after driving through rain. Scattered from very low mileage up to about 67,000 miles, with reports at both city and highway speeds and in wet conditions.

   Recall 14V1730002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for any stored diagnostic codes and service history for stalling or no-start events, and test drive at highway speed and from a stop with the brake held. Check that the battery and charging system are healthy, and confirm whether recall 14V173000 applies to the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving through rain in our neighborhood and the car stalled and will not restart. Engine seize per dealer. We understand other Mazda's have been recalled due to this issue. We requested the car to be checked for a possible recall without success because our VIN does not fall in the recall. We offered to pay out of pocket for them to test it which they declined to do.”

   NHTSA complaint #10779494, filed 2015-10, 36,000 miles

   “I was at a stoplight with my foot on the brake when the engine started to rev up, then I heard a thud and the car lurched forward and it felt like I was hit from behind. I pulled over to check for damage but nothing. This is a safety issue and there should be a recall as I see on the web others are having the same experience. The car is going to the Mazda dealer asap to see if they can correct the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10937352, filed 2016-12, 25,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Parking brake doesn't hold; rear calipers binding

   • 17 complaints (12%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2023

   Complaints describe the handbrake failing to hold the car on a slope, particularly on manual-transmission cars, and rear calipers that stay applied so pads and rotors wear or warp and fuel economy drops. Several owners say the parking-brake recall work was done but the brake still did not hold afterward, or that the dealer inspected and ordered parts and the problem remained; others report rear caliper replacement being recommended at their own cost. Reported from about 9,000 up to 94,000 miles, with several complaints filed a year or more after the recall repair.

   Recall 17V3930001 related service bulletin

   What to check: On a slope, set the parking brake and confirm the car holds without rolling; after a drive, feel the rear wheels for unusual heat or drag. Ask whether recall 17V393000 was performed and whether the rear calipers were replaced at the same time.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had my car parked on a hill, it is a manual and I left it running & had the gear in a neutral position with the emergency break on. I was feeding my neighbors pigs when I noticed my car starting to roll backwards so I jumped in the drivers side of the car while it was rolling backwards to stop the car with my foot break. The emergency brake completely failed thank god I told my seven year old son to get of the car while I was helping with the animals! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10957665, filed 2017-02, 73,000 miles

   “2-3 months ago I noticed that emergency hand brake was not holding the car again after recall has been completed back in sep 2017. Now I always leave my car parked on the 1st gear (manual transmission). My mechanic said that calipers have never been replaced and they look original also he showed me that brake pads are not being released and get stuck really hard on the rear axis. I found the invoice and everything that has been replaced is parking brake lever per recall order . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11315843, filed 2020-03, 94,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Steering clunk or momentary loss of assist

   • 10 complaints (7%)
   • median 42,500 mi at 3.2 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2020

   Owners describe a clunk or knock felt and heard through the steering wheel, typically when turning near full lock at low speed after the car has sat, or over bumps. A smaller group reports the steering wheel briefly locking or assist dropping out while turning, accompanied by warning lights, with dealers sometimes finding no stored alarms. The clunk reports cluster from very low mileage to about 75,000 miles; the assist-loss reports came at low to moderate mileage.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Turn the wheel to full lock both ways at walking pace after the car has sat overnight and listen for a clunk; note whether any steering or stability-assist warning lights appear on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When turning my steering wheel all the way to the right there is a clunking noise and I can feel it in the steering wheel when straightening out the wheel. The noise could also be described as a knocking that can be felt in the steering wheel, while not in motion, or very slow motion, after the car has been stationary for a period of time. This issue typically happens when the car sits for longer than 8 hours. It is most commonly felt when backing out of a driveway. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11098900, filed 2018-05, 39,000 miles

   “The steering wheel column makes a vibrating noise when the car's driving on bumpy roads, sounded like something's loosen. I discovered it right after I picked up the car from the dealer lot when it had 115 miles. I went back to a Mazda dealer to report the problem and they said it is a common problem that they've seen before and Mazda had a solution for it. So they fixed it, but that was two weeks ago and now the steering wheel column is making the vibrating noise again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10532458, filed 2013-07, 120 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake noise, judder or dragging after service

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Several owners report odd noises from the front brakes after a pad replacement, with dealers saying the noise was normal and no fault found on repeated visits. Others describe brakes that grab or drag, or a pedal that did not respond as expected in wet conditions. Complaints also mention vibration or judder when braking. Mostly reported between roughly 28,000 and 90,000 miles, often shortly after brake service.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive and brake from moderate speed, listening for grinding or scraping and feeling for pulsation through the pedal or wheel; ask for the brake service records and whether any noise complaint was diagnosed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I recently replaced my front brakes due to normal wear. I took my car to a local madza dealership, and when the job was completed, my brakes began to make odd noises on the drivers side. I took the car back, and they told me that brakes make noises. I told them, that wasn't true. Prior to the new brake job, my original brakes didn't make odd noises. I then took the vehicle to another madza dealership. Again, I was told nothing was wrong. Meanwhile, when o engage the brakes, there's a strange noise that continues on the drivers side. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10824051, filed 2016-02, 28,500 miles

   “Parking brake sticks. Happens while stationary or moving. Has resulted in warped rotors, worn brake pads, lowered my fuel economy, most likely ruined wheel bearings, from the excess heat.”

   NHTSA complaint #11013693, filed 2017-08, 35,000 miles

Buying note. Check that the car powers fully off in Park on the first button press and that the parking brake holds on a slope, since those two themes account for a large share of owner complaints. Ask for service records covering the parking-brake recall and any shifter or battery replacement, and confirm open recalls for the VIN.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.